Mother's Day and Mari in the Margins

Thoughts of my mom as I prepare to launch my first novel

Hi friends,

Several years ago—I can’t remember how many, but at least ten—my mother sat at my dining room table as I handed her my iPad open to a PDF of a novel in verse I had been working on. She had said she’d like to read it. And read it she did. She sat there in the middle of the dining room reading that novel aloud for all to hear. She read for a long time, at least long enough to get about a third of the way through the book before her voice got tired and she continued on in silence. At one point she stopped and made a prediction about one of the characters. I confirmed her prediction and she carried on with a little grin and a glint in her eye.

I’m thinking of that day now as I reflect on Mother’s Day and on the fact that my first published novel in verse is about to be released. Yesterday was my third Mother’s Day without my mom. But this will be the first book I’ve published since she’s been gone. And honestly, that’s almost all I’ve been able to think about for the past few days. Mom was my biggest cheerleader. Her encouragement and influence is probably why I’m an author at all. And I know she would have been so delighted about Mari in the Margins.

How I wish I could hand her a copy of the book and see the smile that would fill her face, and the happy tears that would fill her eyes. I want to hear her voice read the story aloud, and listen to it crack a little when she reached the heart-tugging bits. I know it would. I can picture exactly how it would go. She would get a little choked up, clear her throat and attempt to keep reading, but as soon as I glance at her, she’d break into one of her funny little laugh-cries, chuckling through her tears as if almost embarrassed to be caught being emotionally vulnerable. I’d give her a hug, and she’d continue reading in silence.

My mom isn’t here to celebrate this book with me, and if all goes as I hope there will be many more books to celebrate in the future. Many more moments—publishing and otherwise—that I’ll wish I could share with her. But I’m living the life she (and my dad) raised me to live, so at least in that way I carry her with me. Every time I publish a book, I’ll imagine her reading it, and the thought of her funny little laugh-cry will make me smile.

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Mari in the Margins releases tomorrow, May 14. You can order the book directly from the publisher, Bandersnatch Books, or via Amazon (the kindle version is available now and the paperback should be available on release day).

If you are a fan of novels in verse, are intrigued by the idea of a novel in verse, or enjoy middle grade stories about family, friendship, and figuring out where you fit in the world (or know a young reader to whom any of these apply), I hope you’ll consider ordering Mari in the Margins!

A few more things:

• I have an article published on The Rabbit Room: In Praise of Reading Poetry Aloud to Children, in which I talk about discovering the magic of poetry in hearing my mother read aloud to me as a child, and the impact that had on my life.

• Watch me unbox my author copies of Mari in the Margins!

• One of the best novels in verse I read last year, Alone by Megan E. Freeman, is the Nebraska Golden Sower Meadowlark Winner for the 2023-2024 school year. The Golden Sower is the Nebraska children’s choice literary award. You can read my review for the book in this previous newsletter.

• Check out a review of Mari in the Margins and an interview with me on the blog Of Maria Antonia.

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In honor of my mom, a drawing of a hummingbird. Colored pencil and ink.